ANP-led jirga demands opening of Pak-Afghan border

KHAR: The Awami National Party (ANP)-led jirga here on Saturday urged the government to open the Pak-Afghan border points to resume trade and business activities with Afghanistan

The jirga, convened by Bajaur chapter of the ANP, was held at the Khar Press Club where leaders and traders discussed the issues caused by the closure of border point with Afghanistan and urged the Pakistani government to reopen the trade routes - Nawa, Latai, Ghakhi passes and others.

Besides a large number of local political and tribal elders and leaders of the traders, including Gul Afzal Khan, Maulana Khan Zeb and Member Provincial Assembly MPA Nisar Baz, Sardar Khan of Jamaat-e-Islami, Sher Bahadur and Aurangzeb Inqilabi of Pakistan People’s Party, president of Khar Bazaar Wajid Ali Shah, president of Inayat Killay Bazaar Imran Mahir, tribal elders Qazi Abdul Manan, Malik Azeem and others attended the jirga.

The participants unanimously demanded that the governments of Pakistan and Afghanistan should immediately open the historically significant trade routes, which had been closed for the last two decades for the movement of goods and people.

“Opening these routes would not only have a positive impact on the security situation but would also improve the region’s economic condition and strengthen the social bonds of love and brotherhood between the peoples on both sides,” said a speaker, adding that the trade routes of Chaman, Torkham, Ghulam Khan, and Kharlachi were already open for such activities.

He said that the opening of remaining trade routes, including Nawa Pass, would boost economic activities in the region.The participants of the jirga also called on all political parties to include the restoration of peace and the opening of trade routes with Afghanistan, including Nawa Pass and others, in their parties’ manifestos.

Maulana Khan Zeb said that the ANP had been holding jirgas from time to time to promote peace and open trade routes with Afghanistan. He said that this process would continue in the future as well to facilitate the businesses of local people in the area.